Dictionary for a Better World
Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
How can we make the world a better place? This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a "try it" prompt for an activity.
This second poetic collaboration from Irene Latham and Charles Waters builds upon themes of diversity and inclusiveness from their previous book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Illustrations from Iranian-British artist Mehrdokht Amini offer readers a rich visual experience.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Awash in attempts to help cool our fevered world, we/ Begin simply with words." Each term in this unconventional dictionary receives a four-part exploration alongside Amini's eclectically illustrated spreads: a poem, an inspirational quote, a first-person anecdote from the authors, and suggested "Try It!" actions. Latham and Waters rifle the storehouse of poetic forms, using structure to clarify meaning, for example through a senryu, "Service": "helping hands fill plates/ with meat-and-potato peaks/ hope is gravy." Forms range from the aubade to the villanelle, each explained in a brief caption. Latham and Waters's personal stories are plainspoken and relatable (Latham: "One of the quickest ways to get myself out of a funk is to... get busy serving others"), and the suggested actions, accessible: "Look into service opportunities in your area." The approach creates multiple pathways for engagement. Extensive supplementary materials include an index of poetic forms. Ages 8 12.
